Endoscope apparatus

Abstract

An endoscope apparatus includes an insertion part which has an imaging mechanism at a distal end portion; a display part which displays an image acquired by an observation mechanism, a manipulating part which performs curving manipulation of the insertion part; and a housing which accommodates the display part and the manipulating part to a front face thereof, and which connects the insertion part with a back face opposite to the front face. The manipulating part has a swingable first joystick; and a curving mechanism having the first joystick and a manipulating member connected thereto. The swinging center of the first joystick is located inside a region specified by a portion where fingers are arranged in a side view of the housing when a user holds the housing, and by a distal end of the first joystick protruding toward the front face.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An endoscope apparatus comprising:
 an insertion part which has an imaging mechanism at a distal end portion and which is bendable and elongated; 
 a display part which displays an image acquired by the imaging mechanism; 
 a manipulating part which performs curving manipulation of the insertion part; and 
 a housing provided with the display part and the manipulating part at a front face thereof, and connected to the insertion part at a back face opposite to the front face, 
 wherein the manipulating part comprises:
 a swingable manipulating rod, and 
 a curving mechanism that has the manipulating rod and a manipulating member connected thereto and that curves the insertion part as the manipulating member is advanced or retracted by manipulating the manipulating rod, 
 
 wherein the housing has an upper portion where the display part is provided, and a lower portion where the manipulating part is provided and to which the insertion part is connected, 
 wherein a proximal end of the insertion part connected to the lower portion, and the manipulating rod are coaxially arranged in a neutral state of the manipulating rod, 
 wherein the back face of the lower portion includes a first finger grip portion having a first slope and a second finger grip portion having a second slope, 
 wherein the insertion part is connected to the lower portion between the first finger grip portion and the second finger grip portion, 
 wherein the first finger grip portion, which is provided above the proximal end of the insertion part, includes a first finger grip and a second finger grip, 
 wherein the second finger grip is provided between the first finger grip and the proximal end of the insertion part, such that the second finger grip is provided below the first finger grip in a vertical direction, and the proximal end of the insertion part is provided below the second finger grip in the vertical direction, 
 wherein the housing is configured to be held by a single hand of a user, such that (i) a thumb of the single hand of the user is located at a distal end of the manipulating rod, (ii) first and second other fingers in the single hand of the user are located respectively on the first finger grip and the second finger grip of the first finger grip portion, (iii) third and fourth other fingers in the single hand of the user are located on the second finger grip portion, and (iv) the thumb and the other fingers face each other, and 
 wherein a swinging center of the manipulating rod is located inside a region specified by the first slope of the first finger grip portion and the second slope of the second finger grip portion, and by the distal end of the manipulating rod protruding from the front face in a side view of the housing. 
 
     
     
       2. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first slope and the second slope both incline toward the insertion part. 
     
     
       3. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the curving mechanism is a mechanical curving mechanism in which the manipulating member is advanced or retracted by manipulating the manipulating rod. 
     
     
       4. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first slope extends downward and rearward toward the proximal end of the insertion part, and the second slope extends upward and rearward toward the proximal end of the insertion part. 
     
     
       5. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the curving mechanism is a mechanical curving mechanism in which the manipulating member is advanced or retracted by manipulating the manipulating rod. 
     
     
       6. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first finger grip portion comprises:
 a first extending section that extends rearward and downward toward the proximal end of the insertion part from a position of the back face of the housing where the upper portion of the housing meets the lower portion of the housing; 
 a second extending section that extends rearward and downward toward the proximal end of the insertion part from a distal end of the first extending section; and 
 wherein the first finger grip is provided at the first extending section, and the second finger grip is provided at the second extending section. 
 
     
     
       7. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the second extending section is curved. 
     
     
       8. The endoscope apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first extending section is linear and provides an upwardly facing surface; and
 wherein the second extending section is curved.